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ORPHAN WORKS BILL of 2008 |
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Several members have written and expressed their concern for the
ORPHAN WORKS BILL OF 2008. They urge all members to pay serious
attention to the potential threat. Please read further. |
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ACT NOW to protect your rights as
an artist. On April 24, 2008 congress re-introduced the Orphan Works
Bill, originally introduced in 2006. A bill that could affect all
independent artists rights of ownership and the way they are
protected. |
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Orphan Works is a bill to provide a limitation on judicial remedies
in copyright infringement cases involving orphaned works. In short,
artists would have to pay to own their own work along with a host of
other inherent problems that could change your life as an artist. This
affects all of us, painters, photographers and designers alike and
is getting fast tracked to get through now. Please take time to
write, fax, snail-mail, or e-mail. (Faxes work better than e-mails,
as e-mails are too easy to delete.)
Sample letter -
created to help you protest the Orphan bill. Be
sure to include the H.R. 5899 and S.
2913 Orphan Bill Numbers.
Find your Senators
and
Find your Representative |
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From Illustrators Partnership and posted on the "Art of Licensing"
Yahoo Group by a member named Stella is this summary listing the
consequence if the bill: |
"If we do not stop BOTH Orphan Works Bills NOW-
It does not matter that you created it.
It does not matter that you have a copyright mark on it.
It does not matter that it is registered in the Library of
Congress.
It does not matter that you signed it.
It does not matter that you put a big fat watermark across it.
It does not matter that you put digital signatures on it.
It does not matter if you get a lawyer- you will get a pittance
determined by the offending company and no reimbursement for
legal fees.
It does not matter even if you do as they demand and pay to
register
it in the new registries that they will form - there is no real
punishment for using your work for profit.
It does not matter that you do not want your image used on a
product
or to promote an agenda.
They can even sell your prints and make money!"
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Related links: |
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Article about issues by Mark Simon,
Animation World Magazine |
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Audio Interview with Brad Holland,
an artist's interview Sat April 5, 2008,
offers insight to the ramifications of this bill if it should pass |
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Audio Interview with Alex Saviuk, famed
Spider-Man comic artist and the Orphan Works bill. |
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Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists
hosted by Illustrators Partnership |
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House Bill H.R.5889 and Senate
Bill S. 2913 -
the
actual bills in Congress.
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Find your Representative |
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Find your Senators |
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Sample letter -
A sample letter created to help you protest the Orphan bill. The
window for being heard is short! Write your congress person and be
sure to include the H.R. 5899 and S.
2913 Orphan Bill Numbers. |
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